Question about demos for music labels

That was you eh? yeah i got into a few "interesting" discussion in that thread :P

Said it all perfectly, agree with all the points.

If only all labels had the same attitude.

I currently run two labels at the moment,

https://www.facebook.com/plusplusrec

and

https://www.facebook.com/LowBatteryRecordings

I'm sure there's a little bit of truth here to what everyone is saying, as every label is run by a uniquer individual. But for me and my other mates who run labels we look for a few things when listening to demos.

1. First one is simple. Make it as EASY AS POSSIBLE for us to listen to your demo. Don't send us a zippyshare link that we have to download and then unzip, too much of a pain in the ass. Ideally just send us a Soundcloud link, preferably private, and we'll check it out.

2. Another thing we look for is the actual writing and arrangement first and foremost. Obviously there has to be some what of a decent mixdown but if the track is well written and the arrangement works then we can work on the mixdown together or send it out else where. We can teach a monkey how to engineer, but we can't teach him how to write a track. It's called dance music for a reason.

3. Another thing we look for is the whole body of work, most likely your Soundcloud page (because you did send a private Soundcloud link, right?). We want to see if his work is consistent or if he just happen to get lucky and catch lighting in a bottle on this one track. We don't want one hit wonders, we more interested in finding legit, raw talent who we can actually help develop.

4. Also, make sure you music fits what the label is doing! Should be pretty obvious, but you'd be surprised how much music we get sent that is no where close to what out vision is.

5. Also patience is the key. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You will get better at writing, you will get better at audio engineering as well. Don't believe you'll get signed in the first three months, six months or even the first year. You really need to dedicate time to perfect your craft. If a label is trying to sign you in the first three months, are you really sure you want to sign with that label? It's probably nothing more than one of those turn and burn labels who are releasing 7 EPs every month and who will never get back to you or actually help you develop as an artist. And remember, once you put a track out there on Beatport, Juno, iTunes and so on, it will ALWAYS be out there as a reflection of who you are. Knowing that, you would want to put the best work out there possible, no?

6. If you're not sure about anything, send them a short and concise email asking if they accept demos and preferred method they like to receive them.

These are all things off the top of my head at the moment. But like I said earlier, there's a little truth to what everyone has said so far, just as there is no right or wrong way to submit music to a label. Everyone runs their label differently, you just have to figure out what they are looking.

In my experience these days most artists send masters or at least rough masters to the labels when shopping tracks out. I have a lot of guys coming to me to master songs for them long before they get signed. I believe in this day you need to present them with the best possible demo you can to stand out, or stand a chance.

That said, some labels will ask for a mixdown if they sign it, so that they CAN have it mastered by their preferred engineer. This is getting less common these days though IME.

aww patch... so not true mate.
Sorry you feel that way, but i talk to people at labels regularly and yes, they are always looking for new, fresh, good talent.

then im glad i had the idea to write this article
http://www.djranking s.com/2013/08/2...music-lottery/

I hate to sound so negative, but........

Labels don't want your demo's at all. They won't listen to them unless they already know who you are.

Don't fool yourself into believeing you can send out a bunch of demos and eventually get signed. Those days are practically over.

My experience is, deliver a good mixdown with almost everything pretty much done properly.

The label we released on, Plus Plus Records, did the mastering. But I don't believe we gave Jason to hard a time mastering our tracks?

I believe you've got it wrong here, you do a pre master, but this is not a master. At the end of the day if your sending stuff to a label that expect you to master it then it isn't a professional label, or at least one that doesn't want consistency.

It may be different in the digital world, I've had a couple of digi releases both of which were mastered before release not by me but by an ME, I was just expected to do a good mix down basically a pre master. The bulk of my releases have been on vinyl, again a pre master (Mix Down) was required.

I don't have the expertise nor the gear , same as a lot of producers to be able to do a good job of a master. The job of a producer is not to master, that is why there are mastering engineers who specialise in it. Granted there are some producers who can master too, but you don't see too many on releases.

Again the majority of my dealings as a producer, and as a label owner is vinyl releases, neither of which have I asked to, or asked someone to do a master themselves.

Do labels want you to send your own mastered version as a demo or just the mix down version?